Questions with か
Japanese often marks a direct question with か in polite standard form.
Examples
JapaneseTranslation
これはだれの本ですか。Kore wa dare no hon desu ka.
Whose book is this?
日本語を勉強しますか。Nihongo o benkyō shimasu ka.
Do you study Japanese?
いま時間がありますか。Ima jikan ga arimasu ka.
Do you have time now?
Pattern
statement + か
How it works
Japanese often marks a direct question with か in polite standard form. This pattern typically appears as statement + か and becomes easier when you meet it again in short, readable examples.
What to notice
- In polite written examples, か clearly marks the question.
- The rest of the sentence often stays close to statement order.
Why it matters
Ask simple questions and talk about existence and possession.
Use in context
This is a very clean beginner structure and appears in every kind of practical classroom and service dialogue.